Wise Forumites ... We're off to Whitby for a few days ... advice please ...

Never found "The Magpie" anything special!

There used to be queues all down the outside steps.
The thing is they had no competition aside fro getting from another chippy.

At some point of time they became poncey and lost the original plot by putting "Scallops" etc on the menu.

Worst thing about F&C at Whitby is them leaving skin on the fish!

Whitby is picturesque pretty much noncommercialised (at least it was twenty years ago) but that being the case,
I wouldn't fancy spending much more than a day here.

Balancing stones on the beach is fun but somewhat dangerous!

Nice walks along the cliffs if that's your bag.

Better sandy beach just up the road at "Sansend" if you have kids.

Have a trip to "Robin Hood's Bay" . Again picturesque but sod all to do and the one pub right by the beach has made no effort to tyake advantage of a captive audience (again I'm talking more than twenty years ago).

We had BBQs on the moors heading towards Pickering. Decent car park on the way and you can watch the "Hang Glider" guys trying to kill themlves!

On the same route is Goathland, where "Heartbeat" was filmed.

pub(cant remember name)at the bottom of the steps is ok for a drink and a bit of a view,pub grub slightly better than average,bit overpriced....whitby itself is not as good as it thinks it is.....there is a really nice chocolate shop worth a visit if you like chocs that are a bit different

Whitby is a delightful coastal town. Best fish and chips in England.  Enjoy. 

Any room in the car for a passenger?  I'm not from Syria if that helps, and I can pay my own way.

Go to the tourist info at the harbour and buy a weekend parking voucher, tricky to get parked otherwise. The pedestrian street that goes along towards the opposite end away from the harbour....there's a pub with Racing Uk there.

AP, thanks for info but maybe changed in last 20 years ... maybe just poundland and Tesco now - hope not but a lot of places I have visited 20 years later have become real sh!tholes.  I come from near Rotherham originally, but moved away 50 years ago.  had to go back near there to do some work 10 years ago and it seemed like I was in another time warp ... Floors to Go, B & Q, Tesco, where there used to be Steelworks - very sad.

Alun, much as I'd like you to share the car (and fuel and hotel bill) my wife would probably balk at having to share our bedroom with you.  But if you don't mind sleeping in the bath, might be ok
I'm leaving about 8-30 on Fri so will pick you up about 10.  What sandwiches do you like for picnic on the way - I'll get Mrs mememe to pack a couple extra.

Christ johnn, it's a romantic weekend away with wifey (and Alun, it seems - see below).

I'd get killed for watching racing.

Robin Hood's Bay, a little further along the coast is well worth a visit. Especially if the sun shines.

Ham sandwiches please, using Morrisons Tiger Bread, and buttered with Lurpak.

As someone else has said, parking was always a problem, and not sure how having a weekend pass can help, as you still have to find your space!

I'm assuming you haven't been before and I'm sure you will love it.

If "The Magpie's" menu delivers what it says, it's probably very good. Obviously not cheap but that keeps out the "Rif-Raf".
Having said that, it's not a place that said "Rif-Raf" would choose to be.

If you are going over the moors from Pickering, it is majestic.

When I've been on my own, on business, I always played "Vivaldi-Four Seasons" at massive volume. Somehow it just fits the mood!

Having said that, it's not a place that said "Rif-Raf" would choose to be.

That was meant as Whitby, not just "The Magpie"!

When I've been on my own, on business, I always played "Vivaldi-Four Seasons" at massive volume. Somehow it just fits the mood!

what, in the Magpie??

and when you're eating fish and chips!!  (only joking)

Yes I've been before a few times ... many years ago - but Scarborough was the chosen place by my family ...but not now that Jimmy Savile's around somewhere in Scarborough.

Never explored Whitby and its environs, so looking forward to it.

Thanks for help.

I enjoyed Whitby, we went for their "Musicport" festival last October. Just wander around and have a pint and some chips, its hardly Las Vegas, but it's cool. The museum up at the abbey is worth a visit, you can even play with huge sword there

About a one mile walk away on Monks Trod lies the village of Ruswarp.
From here you can rent a rowboat or canoe and drift down the lovely River Esk.

http://www.ruswarp-pleasure-boats.co.uk/

Years since I've been, but might be tempted to take in a Goth weekend that they sometimes have because of the Bram Stoker link. Some sights there:

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Lovely little town loadsa boozers curry house round back of the station is ok

Ask the locals about http://www.siriusminerals.com/ and check out Doves Nest.

Plenty munee to be made by investing in Sirius Minerals now that the planning permission conundrum has been overcome.  http://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.asp?SharePrice=sxx  Most people in Whitby should know about it.

goth & chips, mushy peas...whats not to like